A large majority of New Yorkers support the idea of capping property tax increases, according to a new survey by the Siena Research Institute.

Governor Spitzer announced in his Jan. 9 State of the State message that he would form a commission to recommend a cap on school property taxes, among other property tax reforms.   (More background on this issue can be found here.)

Responding to a question that did not identify Spitzer as the source of the idea, 72 percent of the respondents to the Siena survey supported the concept–including 29 percent who indicated they “strongly support” it.  Backing for a tax cap crossed party and geographic lines but was strongest outside New York City (which, because it has no separate school tax, would be excluded from Spitzer’s proposal).   The cap was supported by 80 percent of the survey respondents living in New York City suburbs and 81 percent of respondents from upstate New York.

Detailed cross-tabulations of the Siena survey results can be downloaded here; the tax cap is question 15 on page 3.